Thoughts From The Townedger-October 2020

 There has not been any gigs or jams happening due to cold weather and work at my place of employment. So it's basically time to reflect on happenings at the moment.  We can't wait for Election Day to be over. I'm sick of refreshing You Tube with their fucked up political propaganda crap.

(The Never Late After Lunch Gang, Mike Eganhouse, Dan Hartman, Jeff Taylor, Steven Bray, Steve Jennings, Bruce Chadima, Jeffrey Brown, R.Smith, Nate Hines, Tom Krecji, Dan Johnson took the pic)

COVID has been the main issue since March when we ain't had much to show for gigs.  I had Stone City and then Moline and that after that, nothing.  Pub 1848 has moved their open mics indoors.  Stone City General Store has not.  So we are all planning to wait till 2021 to see what happens.  The Blue Rox band could have played a Friday night at JA Tap but they picked the wrong night.  I can't afford to pass up work just to make  50 dollars playing from 9 to 1.   If we get shipped out to Packaging next month, then we can open up once again.  I do enjoy the 2nd Wed of the Month club with Dan Johnson at Checkers.  It's kinda like everybody getting together again to see what's going on in their music life.  Mike Eganhouse has a better idea, move to Arizona, to which he will be doing at the end of the month. Glen Gardner moved there a couple years ago, best choice he's made.  At least they won't be dealing with the ice and snow shit. 

After receiving Cyndi's last message that I disappointed her tremendously (even after giving her part of my record collection) I finally cut that last cord of communication with her.  I should have bounced her out a couple months sooner, but in my own caring way, I kept talking with her and trying to help her sing again.   She got mad at Russ for not talking to her when Blues Rox was playing one night, she wanted nothing to do with Julie when she offered a olive branch and Cyndi chopped the damn tree down.  I don't have time to be anybody's love interest,  I barely have time for Julie.  I wasn't too pleased when Cyndi decided to sit with the Blues Rox boys as well.  

I think in life we try our best to help people and make a impression that anybody can sing at open mics if they put their mind to it.   I didn't see Cyndi at the open mic when I played there last, and Julie mentioned that Cyndi wasn't there either.  I'm sure when Rumors opens up their jam, she'll be back. In terms of her being tremendously disappointed in me, my reply is No expectations, no disappointments.  She should have known better.  

When I turned 50, I still have a ton of hair on top of my head and I could still hear.  In the 10 years I have aged 30 years in 10 an can't figure out what the fuck happened. As I approached 60, I have lost over 75 percent of my hair, can't see without glasses and now I can't hear out of my left ear.  I'm not sure of the dangers of rock n roll or other things played a role.  It's frustrating to try to hear what Julie says and me going What, only to have her get annoyed with me.  The tinnitus has gotten worse since my return to play despite me wearing earplugs. I'll look into hair replacement but it's another of the benefits of living too long.   I am not prepared for this.

Update on John Field, he's out of jail but has developed cancer and will not seek treatment.  He's given up on life.  Sometimes I feel like him but since Julie is in my life I got to keep on even if I turn deaf, blind and bald.  John never recovered from the Flood of 2008.  I enjoyed jamming with him on drums back in 2006 and looking back, I should have unretired then till of waiting.  He was a damn good guitar player.

The Rumor's Sunday Funday Jam returns in November like I figured it would. But questions remain about playing.  People are still afraid to show due to COVID but wearing a mask is encouraged for the faint of heart and if you get sick easily then you are better off staying away.  Once I get the drum trax to the new album done, I'll be back.

I haven't made much of a big deal out of the new album but I haven't had much luck in recording the DW Copper snare and went back to using the more trustworthy Pearl Snare.  I may put this one up for sale in the future but in the decade of having it, I only used it for live shows.  Drum tracking on the new album will be done within a week, then the song selection and eventual release.  To which copies will be given to family and friends, just like the other albums. 

The situation with Blues Rox continues to be complicated.  I have been in the band for a year now and we have some great moments and not so great moments.  The issue at hand remains keeping Kristopher interested enough to mature and play.  Lately he has backed out of a couple gigs,  last Friday Artisan's gig he could have played as a duo with his dad but he didn't want to do that.  We have a Halloween gig at a private party that he's wavering on.  I cannot speak for him, I love his guitar playing but I think he is getting bored with the whole thing and at age 19 maybe he's looking for something else to do with his life. Not having the Parlor City Blues jam might have something to do with that as well.  Hell, if I could play guitar like Kristopher, I would def keep playing and keep learning the blues.  Kids have a short attention span it seems or tend to get bored with playing with their dad.    As I stated before, I'm in this band for the long haul but usually band I play in last about a year tops anyway.  Perhaps we have struck midnight with Blues Rox?

I don't know about you but I can't wait for November 4th.  We can say goodbye to the fucking political crap ads for another six months.  And then there's Kanye West. 

Till next month.  Franklin says hello.